ere I in corporate management andlooking for a knowledgeable, enthusiasticteam leader who can motivate people and getthe job done, Matt Wojtkowiak would be myguy. But like a lot of capable people who mayfit that description, Matt chose to work forhimself, hence Matt’s Auto in Gloucester City,just south of Camden, N.J. “My background isin mechanical engineering,” he says. “I workedfor a company at first but for the last 41 yearsit has been for myself.”In his youth he was a drag racer, runninghis 1955 Chevy at Atco, Englishtown, andperiodically at Cecil County Dragway inMaryland. “I ran a modified productionclass,” he explains. “I wasn’t the fastestand I broke a lot of transmissions. I gotreally good at fixing transmissions.”Matt has been the Chief of Tech atSouth Jersey Region events at NewJersey Motorsports Park for the last sixyears, and he’s very proud of his techteam, known as the “Men in Black.”“It has nothing to do with the movie,”he’s quick to add. “A new competitor waslooking for the tech squad and he was toldto go see the men in black. Being in theauto repair business I always wear a blackgolf shirt and black trousers to not showany dirt. Now we have all picked up on itand we are easily identifiable. Plus, we lookprofessional and it promotes an esprit de corp.“I inspire my team to have a goodtime – we have a great group that getsthe job done and gets along with folks aswell,” he notes. “I have two rules: You cometo work tech to have fun, [and] if you arenot having fun, see rule number one.”Matt notes that his team has a significantamount of experience in the automotiveindustry. “We stand tall in doing our jobsand enforcing the rules, but we are not

HAVING CLUB SPIRITFor 2017 Scrutineer Worker of the Year Matt Wojtkowiak Sr.,fun is rule number one | WORDS James Kearney | MAIN IMAGE Courtesy

above helping a competitor fix their car.We view our role as being in it togetherwith the drivers and their crews and westrive to minimize any adversity.”Matt has played a major role in tech at theNational level and has overseen tech for SuperTouring Light at the last three SCCA NationalChampionship Runoffs: Daytona, Mid-Ohio,and Indianapolis. “It is an interesting class withan old-school large variety of cars,” he pointsout. “I’ve also helped with Spec Miata andother classes when they need it. That’s theClub sprit, to pitch in and help as it is needed.”He is hoping to make it to the 2018

FOR THE FUN OF IT

(LEFT) Matt Wojtkowiak
Sr. (left) has a standing
order on his team: “have
fun.” Known as the Men
in Black, the South Jersey
Region tech team is happy
to help, and just as happy
to be part of any event.

(BELOW) At the 2017

National Championship
Runoffs, Wojtkowiak was
named the Scrutineer
Worker of the Year. The
award was presented
by SCCA President
Mike Cobb (left).

Phili
pRoyl
e

“I inspire my team to have a goodtime – we have a great groupthat gets the job done”MATT WOJTKOWIAK SR